ACS Scholars Program accepting applications for minority students studying chemistry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | January 06, 2008

ACS Scholars Program accepting applications for minority students studying chemistry

African-American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian students who are high school seniors, or college freshmen, sophomores or juniors are among those who can now apply for a scholarship from the American Chemical Society Scholars Program. Applications will be accepted through March 1, 2009, for the 2009-2010 school year.

Students must plan to major in or already be majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering or a chemically-related science, and they must plan to pursue a career in the chemical sciences. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on college level and economic need.

ACS established the Scholars program in 1995 to attract underrepresented minorities to the chemistry field and to build awareness of the many opportunities for a career in chemistry. In addition to financial support, the program provides mentoring and research and networking opportunities that help students acquire the skills and credentials needed for a successful career.

The ACS Scholars Program won The Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring in 2001. Since its inception, the ACS Scholars Program has awarded more than $10.8 million to more than 1,990 students, based on a mix of academic achievement and financial need. Cumulatively, these students have attended more than 400 colleges and universities in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. Through the support of the program’s partners and donors, the Society expects to award approximately $1 million during the 2009-2010 academic year to both new and continuing Scholars.

To date, 95 percent of the students accepted into the ACS Scholars program have received an undergraduate degree, 80 percent in a chemical science. In addition, about 400 Scholars have continued on to pursue a graduate degree. More than 150 have been accepted into a Ph.D. program and more than 40 Scholars have already received a Ph.D. Here are a few comments from past scholars:

“Thank you again for your generosity and financial support, said Jasqueline Pena of University of California-Berkeley. “I graduated from Yale University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. The past four years have taken me down many exciting and rewarding paths.”

Kimm Groshong, of Chula Vista, Calif., an American Indian, praised the program and added: “I graduated from Boston University's Knight Center for Science and Medical Journalism with a Masters of Science in January 2004. I am currently writing for an on-line magazine, New Scientist.”

“I am writing once again to express our deep appreciation to the American Chemical Society for the financial assistance you have provided over the years to both of our daughters,” said Barb Obiaya of University Heights, Ohio, mother of two African-American daughters. “Christiana, who graduated in 2004 from M.I.T., is working as a chemical engineer at Proctor & Gamble. Jennifer is currently a junior at Harvard.”

Program partners include founding partner, PPG Industries Foundation, Inc.; GlaxoSmithKline; The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation; Schering-Plough; Xerox; Procter & Gamble; 3M; AstraZeneca; Bayer; Dow Corning; Dow Chemical; and DuPont. The program is also supported through the generosity of many individual donors and ACS members, including more than 60 former ACS Scholars.